Chambéry: Tour de France favourite Richie Porte has suffered a serious crash on the final decent of stage nine of the Tour de France.

His team Racing BMC say he has been taken to hospital.

Tour de France doctor Florence  said Porte had spoken after the fall but that the extent of his injuries would not be known until after X-rays.

“He was conscious, it’s reassuring, he is being transferred to the hospital,” Pommery said.

Porte had been having an exceptional day on the bike, riding in the yellow jersey group chasing the last remaining breakaway rider, Warren Barguil (Sunweb), when he appeared to misjudge a bend.
Tour de France race organisers say Porte, one of the pre-race favourites, was travelling at 72.5km/h when he crashed.
Colombian Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac) won Sunday’s dramatic stage, a 181.5-kilometre route from Nantua to Chambéry.

He beat French rider Barguil after a photo finish. Briton Chris Froome (Team Sky) retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey. His key lieutenant Geraint Thomas abandoned after crashing on the slippery descent of the Col de la Biche, one of three out-of-category ascents of the day.

The defending champion, who was attacked by Fabio Aru (Astana) just as he suffered a mechanical on the last climb, crossed in third.

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Froome had his rivals – including Porte – to thank as the group neutralised Aru’s attack while he was changing his bike on the lung-busting ascent to the Mont du Chat.

Last year’s runner-up French rider Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) pedalled away in the final descent but was reined in by Froome, Uran, Barguil, Aru and his Astana team mate Jakob Fuglsang.

Overall, Froome leads Aru by 18 seconds and Bardet by 51. Two-time winner Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) cracked on the last climb and dropped out of contention.

Three-times podium finisher Colombian Nairo Quintana (Movistar) also struggled, losing 1:15 to Froome and his group.

(Source: Smh)